Tennessee RNs and LPNs must submit proof of competence to fulfill their biennial license renewal requirements. By default, your transcript requirements include continuing education (CE) hours and evidence of one additional item from the state’s approved competency list.
If you are fulfilling your competency requirement using an option other than CE, you must report this selection as an exemption in your CE Broker account to update your compliance status.
Approved Proof of Competence Options
You can submit an exemption for this requirement if you have completed any one of the following items during your current biennial renewal period:
A copy of a satisfactory employer evaluation.
A letter from a peer providing a satisfactory evaluation of your nursing performance.
A copy of a contract of renewal or re-appointment to a nursing position.
A written self-evaluation based on the standards of competence listed in the Board rules.
Evidence of having initially obtained or maintained certification from a nationally recognized certification body appropriate to your nursing practice.
Identification of two (2) or more areas of interest or goals and subsequent development, implementation, and evaluation of a plan to demonstrate competency based on nursing standards.
Evidence of having performed volunteer or community activities related to nursing.
Having authored a published article relevant to nursing in a professional journal acceptable to the Board.
Successful completion of a two (2) week Board-approved nursing refresher program.
Successful completion of a two (2) week Board-approved comprehensive orientation program offered by a prospective nursing employer.
Enrollment in an approved/accredited school of nursing leading to licensure as a Registered Nurse, RN-BSN completion, or to an advanced degree in nursing.
Evidence of successfully retaken NCLEX.
Having participated in the formal education of students in a program leading to licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse, or within a program offering a bachelor's or advanced degree in nursing.
How to Report Your Competency Exemption
Follow these step-by-step instructions to log your competency option in your CE Broker account.
Log in to your CE Broker account.
Click the + Report CE button located at the top of the page.
If you maintain multiple professional licenses, click Option 1 to report to individual licenses, and ensure your Tennessee Registered Nurse license is selected.
Click the Additional Options tab.
Select your current licensing period from the drop-down menu.
Locate the exemption titled Item from Registered Nurse Proof of Competence List (Other than CE) and click the Report button next to it.
Answer the informational prompts as they appear and click Continue.
On the attachments page, upload your supporting documentation (such as a copy of your evaluation, certification, or school enrollment) and click Continue.
Review your entry, attest that the information is accurate, and click the Submit CE button to finalize your report.